PSPS 301-01: REGIONAL AREA STUDIES--ASIA

Fall 2005

Instructor: Dr. Kevin S. Freeman                                                                                                                             Class Hours: MWF 9:00 – 9:50 PM

Office: Dial 247                                                                                                                                                   Office Hours: MWF 10:00 -11:30 AM

Phone: 521-6447                                                                                                                                                       Email: kevin.freeman@uncp.edu

Course Description: This course is designed to provide students with an in-depth look at the politics of countries in the Asian continent.  The course will be broken into three segments, each which covers a particular geographic region in Asia.  We will focus in particular on how individual Asian states view themselves in the world, and what they feel their role in Asian, and world, politics should be. 

The format for class meetings will consist of lectures and opportunities for discussion and debate. The instructor will make every effort to relate course concepts to the developments taking place in current events.

Course Objectives:

1.       To grasp a basic understanding of Asian culture and politics

2.       To understand the role of Asia in the world

3.       To be able to differentiate between the political and diplomatic methods utilized by various Asian states.

4.       To become an expert in an Asian country of your choice (excluding China and Japan)

Texts:  There are three texts for this course:

1.       International Relations in Southeast Asia: The Struggle for Autonomy by Donald E. Weatherbee

2.       The International Relations of Northeast Asia edited by Samuel S. Kim

3.       South Asia in World Politics edited by Devin T. Hagerty

I reserve the right to assign additional readings as necessary.  This course will be much more enjoyable (and informative) for both you and your instructor if you are prepared for class discussion. (Remember: a happy instructor is a nice instructor!) 

Attendance: Attendance is expected in this class.  I will be passing a sign-in sheet around that each of you will sign each day.  If you do not sign the sheet, I will count you as absent for the day.  It will be very difficult to make a decent grade in this class without regular attendance--many of the test questions will be directly from lecture material and may not necessarily be found in your text.  Legitimate unexcused absences will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Students with Disabilities: Any student with a documented disability needing academic adjustments is requested to speak directly to Disability Support Services and the instructor, as early in the semester as possible.  All discussions will remain confidential.  Please contact DSS at 5421-6695.  This syllabus is also available in alternative formats upon request.  Please call the aforementioned number if you desire this.

Grading: There will be three tests—two midterms and a final exam—during the semester.  The tests will be a combination of multiple choice questions and short-answer essays.  The final exam (scheduled for Wednesday, December 7 at 8:00 AM) will NOT be comprehensive. In addition, throughout the semester, you will be charged with becoming an ‘expert’ on one Asian country chosen from a list on the next page.  You should do this by reading, checking the internet, and watching the news.  Throughout the semester, you will be given four take-home “country studies” pertaining to your country.  Of these four, I will drop the lowest graded assignment.       

Midterm 1 …………….……………………………………………………….…….....................................................................…………………………100 points

Midterm 2 …………….……………………………………………………….….....................................................................……………………………100 points

Final Exam………...…………………………………………………………......................................................................………………………………100 points

3 Country Study Assignments (50 points each)………………………...................................................................……………………………………150 points

Attendance and Participation……………..….……………………….....................................................................……………………………………...50 points

TOTAL ……………………………………………………………………....................................................................………………………..…………500 points

Grading Scale: 465-500=A; 450-464=A-; 435-449=B+; 415-434=B; 400-414=B-; 385-399=C+; 365-384=C; 350-364=C-; 335-349=D+; 315-334=D; 300-314=D-; < 300=F.

Make-up Policy: There will be no make-ups in this course.  If, for whatever reason, you should miss a midterm examination, the final exam will be counted at 85% in replacing that missing score.  If you miss both midterms, one will be given the grade of ZERO.  No replacement grade will be given for the final exam.  The only exception to this will be for students with OFFICIAL scheduled university activities, and arrangements must be made to do such graded work BEFORE the scheduled date.

Academic Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty of any variety will not be tolerated.  Any instance coming to the attention of the instructor will result in the assignment of an “F” grade for the course, and notification of appropriate Deans.

Disclaimer: We all know how boring long, droning lectures can be.  Teachers can learn a few things from class discussion, too.  But above all, I want this class to be both FUN and INTERESTING for all of us!

Here is the list of countries from which you can choose when doing your country studies.  Be sure to write about the SAME country on each of the four assignments.

Your country study assignments will be handed out during the following dates, and will be due two weeks after this date.  Remember that I drop the lowest of these take-home country studies.  I WILL NOT accept late country assignments, so don’t ask!  If you plan to be absent during a due date, make arrangements to either turn it in early or have a friend turn it in for you.

September 7 (Due September 21)

September 28 (Due October 12)

October 21 (Due November 4)

November 14 (Due November 28)